Eight stakes races totaling $1-million in purses will be in the spotlight on the inaugral Sunshine Millions Preview Day this Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The Sunshine Millions Preview Day will serve as a prep for the $1.3 million Sunshine Millions, to be held Saturday, Jan. 18.
The Preview Day card will feature the $150,000 Classic Millions Preview along with its filly counterpart, the $150,000 Distaff Preview, with both races to be decided at 1 1/16 miles.
The other six stakes on the card are the $125,000 Millions Turf Preview and the $125,000 Filly and Mare Turf Preview, both at a 1 1/16 miles; the $125,000 Juvenile Sprint and $125,000 Juvenile Filly Sprint, both at 6 1/2 furlongs; and the $100,000 Juvenile Turf and $100,000 Juvenile Turf Fillies, both at one mile.
Previous winners of the Sunshine Millions eight races have included Eclipse Award winners Awesome Feather, Miesque’s Approval and Ginger Punch, as well as Mucho Macho Man, Lava Man, Little Mike and Shake You Down.
Handicapping Sunshine Millions Preview Day
Eight stakes for Florida-breds, worth more than $1-million, headline the weekend action at Gulfstream Park. Brisnet.com has you covered for this action-packed day of racing with Daily Selections full-card analysis with best bets available for the Saturday, November 9, card at Gulfstream.
The eight races comprising the Sunshine Millions Preview Day are:
| Race# | Race | Post Time |
| 2 | $150,000 Millions Distaff Preview | 1:45pm ET/10:45am PT |
| 3 | $125,000 Juvenile Sprint | 2:15pm ET/11:15am PT |
| 4 | $125,000 Millions Turf Preview Stakes | 2:45pm ET/11:45am PT |
| 5 | $150,000 Millions Classic Preview Stakes | 3:15pm ET/12:15pm PT |
| 6 | $125,000 Juvenile Filly Turf Stakes | 3:45pm ET/12:45pm PT |
| 7 | $125,000 Juvenile Filly Sprint Stakes | 4:15pm ET/1:15pm PT |
| 8 | $125,000 Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview Stakes | 4:45pm ET/1:45pm PT |
| 9 | $100,000 Juvenile Turf Stakes | 5:15pm ET/2:15pm PT |
Sunshine Millions Preview Day Information
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2013
Where: Gulfstream Park
Post Time: 1:15pm ET/10:15am PT
About Sunshine Millions Preview Day
9/19/2013 – Gulfstream Park has announced the creation of the Sunshine Millions Preview Day, featuring eight stakes races for Florida-breds with total purses of $1 million.
The Sunshine Millions Preview Day will take place for the first time at Gulfstream on November 9 and will serve as a prep for the $1.3 million Sunshine Millions, to be held January 18.
“We would like to thank the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA) and Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (FHBPA) for working with us to put on another great day of racing,” Gulfstream Park President Tim Ritvo said. “We believe the Sunshine Millions Preview Day is another step in strengthening our summer program. We look forward to developing more series like this to showcase Florida-breds and continue making them a prominent part of our program.”
Earlier this month, Gulfstream announced it would host the Florida Sire Stakes beginning in 2014. The Florida Sire Stakes is a series of six races for two-year-olds sired by nominated Florida stallions.
“The Florida breeders and owners are excited to see the creation of a brand new day like this Sunshine Millions Preview Day on the Gulfstream calendar that will feature eight races,” said Lonny Powell, CEO of the FTBOA. “It’s great for our racing and breeding industry. We thank Gulfstream and the FHBPA for coming together on this day and including our state-breds in such a prominent and lucrative fashion.”
Kent Stirling, executive director of the FHBPA, said, “The horsemen are happy the newly named Sunshine Millions Preview Day will remain a million-dollar day for Florida-breds.”
Ten weeks after the Sunshine Millions Preview, Gulfstream will play host to the 12th edition of the Sunshine Millions. The day’s races will serve as a precursor to the 43rd annual Eclipse Awards. Thoroughbred racing’s awards ceremony will be held for the second consecutive year in Gulfstream’s Sport of Kings.
Gulfstrearm Park Summer Meet Information
Date: July 1 – November 24
Gulfstream Park Racing Schedule: Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays through November before the start of the traditional Champions Meet on Dec. 1
Post Times: 12:50pm ET
Gulfstream Park Race Track Information
Main track (dirt): 1 1/8 mile oval
Length of stretch from last turn to finish line: 898 feet
Composition: 85.5% sand, 14.5% clay
Width of stretch: 90 feet
Turf: 1 mile, inside turf track
Length of stretch from last turn to finish line: 990 feet
Composition: Sandy loam, 75% sand, 25% clay, and Celebration Bermuda grass is grown directly into the base.
